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Red Sox join statewide moment of silence

The city of Boston holds a moment of silence to honor the victims of the recent Boston Marathon bombings

By Ian Browne
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- The normal hustle and bustle that takes place in the Red Sox's executive offices in the hours leading up to a game took a momentary break on Monday afternoon.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick suggested that the entire state take a one-minute moment of silence at 2:50 p.m. -- the exact one-week anniversary of when multiple bombs went off at the Boston Marathon, killing three and injuring 176.

Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino joined a gathering of club employees in a central area on the third floor of the team's offices at 4 Yawkey Way.

Moments before the silence began, executive vice president Charles Steinberg noted what had been going on immediately before tragedy struck.

The Red Sox had completed a walk-off win over the Rays on Mike Napoli's double off the Green Monster, and all kids were invited to run the bases immediately after the game.

"The last kids had just finished running the bases, and I looked up at the scoreboard, and it said 2:47," Steinberg said to the gathering of employees. "I walked down the hall, and [assistant] Jackie [Dempsey] and I were talking and I said, 'What a great day.' She said, 'Perfect.' We got back here into the offices, and it was 2:50."

Steinberg kept tabs on the time, and as it closed in on 2:50, he said, "In just a few seconds, we'll do it for a minute as you think about those whom we lost and those who were hospitalized and those whose injuries are going to change their lives forever."

Lucchino then said a few thoughtful words to his staff, and everyone then went back to their workday.

"I think it was fitting, and I know a lot of people around the Red Sox offices were touched," Lucchino said of the idea the Governor had for the entire state to go silent for a minute.

The Red Sox have been supportive for the entire week in the face of the events, including hanging a uniform in the dugout on a daily basis that says "BOSTON 617 STRONG" on the back.

"It's been an incredibly difficult week for everyone," said Lucchino. "Every opportunity to remember the people who were killed or seriously injured is one we should take. We want to return to normality, but not before we do what has to be done to remember the victims."

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.